To apply for the Bridge Communities Transitional Housing Program

Application Process

Before a homeless family is accepted into the Bridge Transitional Housing Program, the following steps must be taken:

Complete a telephone intake.

Complete an in-person interview.

Complete an in-person meeting with the sponsoring church or group for its final decision regarding entry into the Program.

The following are some key elements of the Bridge Communities' Transitional Housing Program:

Housing: Client families reside in Bridge Communities owned apartment buildings that are spread throughout DuPage County. They are located in the communities of: Glen Ellyn, Addison, Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Naperville, Westmont and Woodridge. The apartments are primarily two bedroom units, although there are a few three bedroom units in inventory. Families are in the Transitional Housing Program for an average of two years.

Mentoring: Volunteer mentors from Program Partners sponsor and assist the client families as they work to develop the life-skills necessary for self-sufficiency. Mentors help families with: budget development and savings plan, debt reduction, financial literacy, self-esteem, emotional support, parental skills and healthy decision making.

Case Management: Bridge Communities' professional case managers are available to assist mentors and client families in accessing resources that are important for families to achieve their individual goals. Case managers lead client families and volunteer mentors through the development of short-term and long-term Program goals that the case managers closely monitor.

Employment Counseling: Bridge Communities' employment director assists client families in securing and maintaining employment that will sustain their economic self sufficiency upon graduation from the Transitional Housing Program. Job readiness training, resume writing, and mock interviewing are some of the counseling services offered. The employment director also helps clients families gain acceptance into local universities, colleges and training centers. Once meaningful employment is secured, client families and the employment director focus on job retention and further employment training to continue to increase income.

Tutoring: Since homelessness disrupts the continuity of school attendance, Bridge Communities provides professional certified teachers to tutor all school age children to help them achieve academic success. Tutors are hired to work with children one to two times per week throughout the school year. Bridge Communities is especially interested in helping homeless children succeed so as to break the generational cycle of poverty. Academic scholarships are available to college-bound students who maintain above average grade point averages and attend accredited colleges or universities.

Counseling Resources: At times, client families need additional resources to help cope with life stressors or ongoing emotional issues. To help, Bridge partners with community-based psychological services for short or long term counseling. These services are available for both parents and children.

Car Donations: Homeless families often come into our Transitional Housing Program in need of reliable transportation to help them get to their jobs and take their children to child care or school. Bridge Communities solicits auto donations from persons in our communities; all cars are checked for safety before being given to client families.